"So what have we got planned for the weekend...or what's left of it?" Vanessa asked they arrived at the Humphrey loft. Ever since Rufus had gotten married to Lily, he had moved out – leaving the loft all for Dan and Jenny. Of course, they had been invited to move into the Van der Bass apartment themselves, but Dan wasn't too keen on sharing a room with Chuck or sleeping on the couch. But if he was to be completely honest, he didn't want to see Serena. It wasn't that they'd had another argument or anything; he just realised that while he was friends with her, he'd never actually get the chance to properly get over her. In the past school year, they had gotten back together three times – once of which was a set up in order to get Serena's former flame, Gabriel, to back off – but nonetheless, twice was more than enough. When he was friends with her, he always lusted after her; when they were together, they couldn't seem to make it work. It was a rollercoaster ride that wouldn't stop unless someone made a stand – and that was Dan. He had told it to her straight at the graduation celebration at her penthouse before the summer that there was no point in staying friends as nothing was holding them together anymore. He didn't believe it, but he didn't want to be stuck in an on again off again relationship with Serena Van der Woodsen for the rest of his life.

"The Waldorf-Bass Engagement Party." Jenny replied, lounging on the couch with a fashion magazine. Vanessa snorted.

"Blair and Chuck? Married? They'll be broken up before they even get the chance to get married." Neither Jenny nor Dan responded; they knew Chuck and Blair's relationship was a lot stronger than that.

"Ok, weird vibe..." Vanessa spoke when no one answered, and then lounged down on the other side of the couch Jenny was sitting on.

"How was summer in Brooklyn?" Vanessa asked Dan.

"The usual, glorious summer it's always been. What about summer a la Francais?" Dan asked in his most atrocious impersonation of a French accent.

"Paris was good; Amsterdam was also alright – but what really made my summer was every night when I logged onto my account and read the night's email from Scott." Vanessa explained, a smile spreading across her face.

"Scott? Who's Scott?" Jenny asked, looking up from her magazine. Dan furrowed his eyebrows as her tried to remember when Vanessa had ever mentioned a Scott – and then remembered back to the day in NYU when he and Vanessa had decided to check out the campus; and in the process ran into Nate Archibald and a guy named Scott...

"Wait, you've been emailing each other the whole summer?" Dan asked, intrigued.

"Yes. It's nothing creepy since I've already met him and spoken to him face to face; but since he was in New York and I was overseas, we had to commute some how."

"Wait, wait, wait. So you went out of your way to email some guy every night during your European summer trip, without so much as sending me a Hi Dan, how you doing??" Dan asked, offended. Vanessa furrowed her eyebrows.

"What are you talking about? I called you when I was on top of the Eiffel Tower! Do you know how much international phone calls cost? And we spoke on IM and by text every other day! You have no right to complain." And Dan just stifled a laugh.

"So this Scott...is it serious?" He asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. They both eyed Jenny who switched between looking at Dan and Vanessa.

"What? Oh come on! I want to hear!" But suddenly her phone went off signalling a message from Eric.

"Just your luck! Eric wants to go out since his apartment is getting all set up from Project Engagement Party." And Jenny swiftly rose from the couch on her long legs that carried her out of the loft.

"Do go on." Dan prompted, leaning in closer as if it would increase his hearing ability.

"We're going to meet tomorrow. Again that is. Not for the first time. Since we've already met." Vanessa reassured, as Dan plastered a sceptical facial expression.

"Alright. Is it a date?"

"No! Just a meeting. Just to talk."

"Yes...because you have so much to talk about. So many fond memories to reminisce over..." Dan droned on as Vanessa began beating him with a pillow.

The next morning, Serena escaped the apartment in the early hours of the morning so as to avoid being in the way of the caterers setting up tonight's party. She met up with Blair at Saks in search of the perfect outfit for tonight.

"Good morning, sunshine!" She cried, greeting her best friend with a kiss on the cheek.

"It is a good morning!" Blair replied, the picture of blissful fiancée. It truly was. The sky was cloudless, allowing the sun to pour right through onto the city. The last two days of summer were approaching; and university was beginning. Who knew how many more days Serena and Blair would have to just sit back and relax in the lifestyle they had.

"Please don't tell me you've gone all out for tonight." Blair pleaded and Serena smiled devilishly.

"You'll be pleasantly surprised, I am certain. It's going to be so good; us four – You, Chuck, Nate and me; high school people, mom's friends, your mom and Cyrus are flying down especially from Canada, your dad and Roman from Paris, just about everyone who matters in New York..." Serena continued in a hum while Blair was contemplating what she said.

"That reminds me...did I tell you about Nate?" She asked, clearly remembering she hadn't yet, but ignored this.

"No! What happened?" Serena asked, her face lighting up at the sound of gossip.

"He came over on Friday night to congratulate me. Then he hugged me. And I swear if Chuck hadn't of come like two seconds later, he would have kissed me." Blair explained; in a merely disgusted tone. Serena stared at her, her mouth agape.

"Nate Archibald?"

"The very one." Serena continued to stare at her, willing herself to believe that at any second now Blair would laugh and tell her she was kidding.

"But...he knows you're engaged....why would he try to kiss you?" Serena asked, and Blair shrugged her shoulders. It was just as a mystery to her as it was to anyone else.

"Um, what did Chuck say about it?"

"He was a bit upset, as you'd be. But then I made him forget all about it!" Blair explained, cheerfully adding the last statement; ultimately rendering the Nate situation unimportant and a forgotten topic.

Vanessa clicked her way down Broadway, to the Starbucks cafe in her Italy imported Versace heels. She wore a simple beige coloured jumpsuit that accentuated her perfect European summer tan, and dressed it up with a beautiful black Kate Spade handbag. She was oddly nervous, yet excited to meet Scott 'Last Name Unknown' again. The last time she saw him, she remembered she was attracted to his chocolate brown eyes and matching hair. He had very masculine and good looking features. She reached the store, pushed open the glass door that granted her entry to a pleasantly air-conditioned cafe – a nice relief from the heat outside. She scanned the room for a man that resembled her only memory of Scott.

"Vanessa?" Someone called from a table to her right. She looked over, and surely there he was; as cute as she remembered – same hair, same eyes – smiling up at her. She smiled back and walked over to his table.

"Hi, nice to see you." He greeted her with a handshake, putting extra emphasis on the word 'see'. Vanessa laughed.

"You too! How've you been since our last email? You were saying something about getting a new job or something..." Vanessa began; leading the conversation onto an extremely lengthy and animated conversation about terrible jobs, which lead on to terrible people they'd work for, that lead on to terrible people in general; and in turn terrible people they've hooked up with...

"Chuck Bass? You hooked up with Chuck Bass? That guys all over the newspapers here in New York. Isn't he like the youngest billionaire in the country?" He asked with too much enthusiasm. Vanessa looked over him, sceptically, but nodded nonetheless.

"Yes, it was kind of...out of spite." She explained; repulsed as she allowed herself to remember that night half a year ago.

"So I guess you're part of the in crowd; the elite Upper East Siders, then?" He suggested with an edge to his voice.

"No, no. I'm not. I did have a relationship with one of them; but that ended a while ago." And then Vanessa changed the subject.

"Afternoon kids," Rufus Humphrey called as he entered through the front door of the loft. It had been a few days since he last visited the kids at the loft; but he had gotten so used to the purity and sanitation of the apartment; the white walls and pearly white hand towels in the bathroom; that the loft suddenly felt very dirty and unhygienic. He wiped his hands on his jacket after he closed the front door behind himself and stepped into the lounge area.

"Dan? Jenny?" He called when no one answered. Just then, Dan walked out of his room, less than impressed.

"Hey, sorry. Are you looking for someone?" He asked in convincing oblivion. Rufus raised an eyebrow. He, for one, was not going to talk his son's sarcasm on a beautiful day like today.

"My kids, actually."

"Kids? Sorry, I think you've got the wrong apartment." Dan responded, unsmiling and cold as ever.

"Dan? Could we bite back with the sarcasm?" Rufus asked politely, unable to find his reactions somewhat amusing anymore.

"Maybe if my father hadn't of ditched us for his deluxe-apartment owning billionaire wife!" He yelled; his frustration getting the better of him.

"Oh, so what do you propose? That Lily moves in here? To this shabby little rented apartment?"

"Sorry dad, if we're not your acquired taste..."

"Son, I didn't come here to argue. I am married to Lily now; she has a big apartment with lots of room for all us to move in. As her husband, I took up on that offer. That's not to stay she did not bestow that offer onto my children – just my children were too stubborn to accept it." He spoke with all authority he could muster. Dan stared at him; and was sad to realise that much of the single, rock-band father he'd know for the better half of his life, was gone. No longer did he wear his flannel shirts and torn apart jeans; or his rock-band bracelets and chokers. Dan had grown so accustomed to that little bit of scruffy stubble that emanated from his chin, that when Rufus had eventually shaved it off; he looked a lot different – naked, almost. Though Dan knew perfectly well how happy his father had been the past three months – he had lost weight, and started to take care of his looks by washing his hair more often – he felt like he'd lost his father.

"Jenny and I were raised in this apartment. Did you honestly think we'd move out so quickly? That we'd be so willing to move out to the Upper East Side – a place we'd only ever imagined living in our wildest dreams; a place that I had, for a very long time, despised with great hatred? Dad; I don't want to become...like them..." Dan struggled, rubbing his temples and sighing, "I don't want to become like what you've become." He finally mustered. Rufus approached Dan slowly, his hands in his pockets; and instead of recoiling from Dan's harsh words, he looked very understanding and thoughtful.
"Are you sure? Or is the real reason that you don't want to live in the same apartment as Serena?" Rufus asked; seeing right through Dan's perfectly masked facade. Of course it was because of Serena! The only love of his life; his ex girlfriend with whom he'd spent more time getting together and breaking up again than actually being in a stable relationship with, was officially his step-sister. He could not look at her the same way; even thinking back to those glorious months they had back in Junior Year when they had first started dating, was painful and awkward – instead of looking at them as happy memories, the words incest kept creeping into his mind. Obviously he was not blood-related to her; but now he was related to her by marriage, and that still fell into the category of related. They were family; but not in the sense Dan had always imagined it – him as the doting, loving husband and father, and Serena as the beautiful and sexy socialite wife – no, he was now Dan Humphrey, ex-boyfriend and step-sister of Serena Van der Woodsen-Bass-Humphrey. Could her last name honestly get any longer? She didn't actually change her name to Bass when her mother was married to Bart, and she hasn't changed her name now that her mother was married to Rufus – but the fact remained unchanged – she was all those names now.

"I can't look at her the same." Dan finally spoke after a long silence. He didn't look up from the floor. Rufus put his hand on Dan's shoulder and squeezed it tight.

"I know you aren't angry at me for moving out; you're angry at me for marrying Lily." Rufus stated matter-of-factly.

"No, Dad. I'm happy for you. Really! I just...it's so weird...me and Serena can never..." Dan, illustrious for his once a month stories that are published in The New Yorker, ever since the summer started; had never been so lost for words.

"Son, you and Serena obviously need to talk. And that's what I'm here for. Lily insists that you guys come over for the Waldorf-Bass engagement party and she's not taking no for an answer." Rufus explained. Dan didn't retort. He knew he had to talk to Serena; but he was scared – if he couldn't even face her after graduation, how was he going to face her after three months of silence? But, determined to prove himself not the coward he believe himself to be, he nodded.

"Where's Jenny?" Rufus asked, patting his son on the shoulder in approval of his decision.

"Out, with Eric." Dan replied, grabbing his phone and keys that were lying on the coffee table as he prepared to leave with his father. They travelled downstairs and out of the building, when Dan turned left and began approaching the stairs that lead to the subway.

"Um, Dan?" Rufus called, heading in the opposite direction. Dan whipped his head around only to see a black sedan parked outside the building, waiting for them. Of course, he thought to himself. He was a part of the Van der Woodsen-Bass family now; and they lived in style.

"So, thank you, S, for taking me out today and organising the party and everything. You're the best friend anyone could ask for!" Blair smiled; her excitement too overbearing to mask. Serena smiled her multimillion-dollar smile and embraced Blair as they waited for the Van der-Bass elevator to make its way to ground level.

"But, I know you've talked all about me to avoid the subject of something else." Blair began. Serena raised an eyebrow.

"And what subject would that be?" She asked as the elevator rang, signalling its arrival. They stepped in, and as no one else was occupying the elevator, Blair continued.

"Let me give you a hint. Its name starts with D and ends with an N. He's your step-father's son; your ex-boyfriend and now your step-brother. You've only been pretending you've forgotten all about him this summer but my super-best-friend-senses tell me that you're not. You're purposely avoiding any subjects that may lead on to him. Have I given you a clue yet?" Blair asked her large brown eyes wide with curiosity. Serena sighed, flipping her long blonde hair back. She looked over at Blair who was stubborn enough not to be the one to break the silence. Serena finally surrendered.

"Ok! Fine! So what if I've been thinking about him all summer? He's made no effort to contact me or patch things up between us. Maybe Gossip Girl was right; maybe I am irrelevant...and now Dan's starting to see it too." She spoke; breaking down the wall she had spent all summer building. Her eyes prickled with tears as the stinging memories of their last encounter flooded her mind.

"Don't you dare think that way, S! You are the farthest thing from irrelevant! And frankly; I think if he's not making an effort, it's clear that he's finally gotten the message that you are too good for him. He knows that he's effort are wasted." Blair tried as best as she could to comfort Serena. Blair had never herself made an effort to cover her distaste for Dan. Though she had rendered him tolerable ever since he and Serena had started their tumultuous relationship, she still considered Serena to be way out of his league. But Serena did not listen to Blair; she always has and probably always will, love Dan Humphrey.

"Please, B; don't say that." She fought back traitor tears; hot and heavy, and clogging up her throat. Blair swallowed hard.

"Serena, he's probably having a hard time accepting that you're his step-sister now. I can't imagine becoming Chuck's step-sister...what that would do to me...how it would make me feel. But I know that what you guys had, have, is very real, and strong. I'm sure if you guys talk about it, you'll be able to work something out." Blair wiped Serena's tears away and hugged her. Serena hugged her back and her heart swelled with warmth for her best friend. She knew how hard it was for Blair to speak so highly of Dan; and when she did, it made it even truer.

The elevator signalled its arrival to the penthouse, and they stepped out, armed with shopping bags. The penthouse had been transformed into a chic and elegant party. The windows had been draped with red curtains; the afternoon sun shining through them illuminated a red glow in the room that gave it an extra class of sophistication, and a hue of romance. The cater waiters were dressed very stylishly in cashmere red and black vests that went with the theme of romance. They had long white sleeved, sharp-edge-collared shirts underneath their vests and wore a pair of black business-suit pants. There was a bar in place of the kitchen counter; the bartender experimenting with several different imports of gin and vodka. And who better to taste-test them than Blair's very own, Chuck Bass.

"This one's too bitter; a think a bit of the Firefly should tone it down, and perhaps change the colour – it looks like vomit." He explained, not even a hint of remorse in his words. Still the arrogant son of a bitch he always ways; only this time, he was Blair's son of a bitch.

"Afternoon, ladies." He greeted them, placing his glass back on the counter and approaching both of them. Serena forced a smile while wiping away the evidence of her tears and Blair placed her shopping bags on the sofa. He put his arm seductively around her tiny waist and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. It had seemed like a week, not a mere 24 hours, since they last saw each other; and they were both had not realised how much they were craving each other until he planted his lips on hers and parted them slightly with his probing tongue.

A clearing of the throat behind them interrupted them both, and Chuck pulled Blair aside, keeping his arm protectively on her waist.

"Sorry sis." He chuckled smugly, as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm just going to put my bags away into..." Blair began, but then Chuck interrupted, "my room. Go ahead, I'm right behind you." And Blair smiled as she retreated down the hallway with Chuck Bass right on her tail.

"Oh that's alright guys! You know, you can leave me here..." Serena called out but they were too engrossed with each other to even notice her. She smiled to herself and then fell into the sofa below her, letting her droopy eyelids close.

"So, you got me alone in your room. What did you want?" Blair asked more for effect rather than general curiosity because of course she knew what he wanted; she wanted it too. He closed the door carefully and quietly, and then he was right across the room quicker than she'd ever seen him. He kissed her hard, holding her face quite gently though, as if were the most fragile object in the world.

"You." He responded in a barely audible whisper, and then before they even knew it; before she even had the chance to evaluate the situation and place her bags properly on the floor; he had thrown her back onto his bed and then climbed onto her – much like two nights ago. Again it was urgent movement – like they couldn't get to each other fast enough. Blair knew this was wrong – their guests were expected in about five hours and there was still so much to do; not to mention all the caters just outside and Serena and Lily! Had Chuck even locked the door? Someone could walk in! And then he was slowly creeping down her neck, planting soft kisses that left tingling sensations. Her skin felt like it was on fire.

"Chuck – wait..." she gasped for air. Don't worry about it! Her less respectable side argued. What if Serena came in looking for you? That would scar her for life!

"Mmyes?" Chuck managed to say in between urgent kisses. He wanted to be kissing her all over at the same time. He brought his lips back to hers, desperate, and she reciprocated – although she tried to fight her will, it turned to dust when he touched her.

"We...should...wait..." she gasped again, breathless. He slowed down; she ran her fingers through his hair and he damn well nearly lost his mind.

"Yeah..." he replied reluctantly, also breathless. He lay down beside her, and they panted together.

"You look so beautiful." He spoke after they'd caught their breath.

"You've got no idea. Serena and I went on a major shopping spree and I got the nicest dress for tonight!" She cried happily, jumping off the bed and grabbing the shopping bag marked Valentino. He smiled at her incessant raving; the sight of her happiness was enough to stop all wars.

"You look great in anything," he began, getting up onto his knees, "and I'm so happy..." he edged closer to her, "to be going to my engagement party to you." He finished just as he got to the edge of his bed. She was standing above him, her hands resting on his broad shoulders. How Chuck loved it whenever Blair was on top. She smiled and then craned her neck so that she could reach his lips and kiss him gently. They couldn't get too carried away. It was more intense than any other kiss, because it was soft and they were both longing for each other it was almost too much to resist. But Blair wanted to keep her word – and it would only make the night even more passionate.

Just as they broke away, they heard the elevator ring. The guests were already arriving? Lucky they'd stopped.

"We should greet the guests." She spoke, her hand dropping off his shoulder as she walked towards the door. Chuck followed close behind and then together, they walked towards the front room.

"Hey Serena!" Rufus cried as he stepped through. It's only Rufus. Blair breathed, and Chuck mirrored her expression of relief.

"Hey, Rufus...and...Dan..."She spoke tentatively. Dan murmured something that resembled a 'hello' and then looked down at his feet.

"Ah, Serena...your mother...is she upstairs?" Rufus asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"Yes she's taking care of some stuff."

"Oh that's good. Party stuff, yes? That would require the help of Chuck and Blair?" Rufus asked, looking towards Blair and Chuck who were standing in silence, side by side.

"Of course, right behind you Mr Humphrey." Blair spoke, taking Chuck's hand and following Rufus up the stairs; leaving Serena and Dan alone.

Serena inhaled sharply and then sat back down on the couch. Dan idled around awkwardly, unsure if he should sit down next to her, or whether he should stand where he was. Who was meant to break the silence? Her and him? Technically it had been his isolation that caused the awkwardness between then now, but if she really wanted to talk to him, she would have made the extra effort, wouldn't she have?

"So are you just going to stand there awkwardly and not speak at all?" Serena asked harshly, anger colouring her tone. Dan was taken aback – he hadn't been spoken to like that by Serena since their second break up; and even that wasn't that harsh.

"Um...I don't know. Do we have anything to talk about?" He asked stupidly. Serena was fuming; if he looked hard enough he swore he could see steam coming out of her ears.

"If you were just going to act stupid like this, why the hell did you come?" Serena cried, her frustration getting the better of her as she stormed off towards her room. Dan stood there, shocked, as he tried to contemplate her words.

"Why are you just standing there? Go after her!" One of the female cater waiters prompted; clearly on Serena's side. Dan, unsure of whether he was actually dreaming or whether this was reality, figured it be best if he followed the little person's orders – and went after Serena.

"Serena, wait!" He called after her, but her longs legs had carried her to her room before he was able to catch up, and she slammed the door in his face. She didn't lock it, so Dan opened it easily. The slamming was purely for effect. She was sitting on the edge of bed, facing away from the door; and she had her arms crossed tightly across her chest.

Dan walked quietly into the room and sat down lightly on the opposite side of the bed. They had their backs to each other. He leaned forward and put his face in his hands; taking a deep breath before he prepared himself for their talk.

"I owe you an explanation." He started slowly. Serena didn't speak. He wondered if she'd heard him through the steam coming out of her ears.

"Congratulations." She replied after a few long seconds, "you are truly Einstein." She replied just as harshly as before. Dan smiled to himself. Her hostility was adorable; but it was totally inappropriate for him to be laughing at this moment.

"There is a reason for why I've been avoiding you this summer," He continued; bracing himself for the wrath that was Serena.

"And it's not because I don't want to be friends with you or I hate you or anything about you." Serena loosened her muscles a fraction but was still incredibly tense – her anger radiated off her and filled the entire room with hot hate.

"I'm having...trouble...seeing you as...my step-sister." He finally confessed. He stopped talking then, wondering if Serena was ever going to speak. There was a silence; he had no idea how long it went for, but it was tense and Dan feared Serena was forming an aneurism.

"...w-why..?" Serena stuttered, obviously taken aback by the revelation. All this time she had thought Dan was avoiding her because he didn't want to be with her; thought of her as irrelevant and a waste of his time – but this news was a totally different direction. Dan exhaled loudly.

"I don't know...maybe the fact that you're my ex-girlfriend, the first love of my life and I will probably never stop loving you...and now if I ever want to act on that, it'll just be weird...it is weird...this is weird..." Dan muttered towards the end. His thoughts were going off on a tangent, but the point remained the same. He and Serena = weird.

"No it's not," She said softly, "I was actually so excited to find out about my mom and your dad. I've always wanted a family with you." She confessed.

"What? As a brother? Is that how you see me?"

"No, Dan! We're not related! Our parents are married, but we're not related!"

"Doesn't matter – you're my step-sister now; I'm your step-brother. We have a freaking half-brother together. We practically are related! Could our relationship become any more incestuous?!" Dan fumed.

"You're not angry at me, you're angry at your dad and my mom."

"Yes I am. They had their chance; they could have been together when they were younger – and now they're ruining it for us!" At this point they were both standing, and they had turned around to face each other head on.

"Dan; we have tried and we've failed...so many times...how can you still have hope for us?" Serena asked, a look of despair in her eyes. He knew of their failures – that was what their relationship was, a string of failures; but that didn't mean he loved her any less.

"Because I love you," he explained and Serena was speechless. She still loved him too; but they had failed together so many times, it wasn't even worth fighting for.

"Dan..."

"Do you love me?" He interrupted. She tried to walk past him and out of her room, but he stood in her way.

"Dan...please..."

"Do you still love me?" He asked again, firmly.